CCC: Spartanburg Session I Offensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPARTANBURG | [player_tooltip player_id='1579471' first='Aryan' last='Desai']</strong> wasn't a starter last season at Byrnes. And he's not promised much more playing time this upcoming season now that he's at Spartanburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback certainly looked more than comfortable in his new facility Sunday during the opening session of the Carolinas Coaches Combines.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite his height and a sizable wingspan measuring at 77.5 inches, Desai exhibited a quick release time and again during the passing drills, often confounding the defensive backs who were supposed to be covering his receiving targets. The result was a nice performance from someone who most weren't expecting to be among the more polished looking quarterbacks in attendance Sunday morning.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I always knew I was built for this, built for big moments,” Desai said. “There wasn't that much pressure. I just knew I had to go out there and be myself, throw the ball around. I knew I could do it. [Starting for Spartanburg] is part of the goal. The ultimate goal is to win the state championship. But my first goal is to try to get that starting job. It's going to be fun.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning Spartanburg quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816641' first='Chris' last='Colin']</strong> entered the offseason as the next in line to replace <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592374' first='Trey' last='Burke']</strong> (East Carolina signee). Colin and Desai will continue their head-to-head competition for the next few months. Colin appeared in seven games for the Vikings last fall, giving him an early leg up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, Desai (pictured) isn't going to cede the opportunity, and Sunday was a solid indication of that. Desai's combine testing numbers weren't spectacular. But with new coach Mark Hodge looking on, Desai more than held his own once the combine staff put a football in his hands. He was making quick decisions and then delivering.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What was most impressive about his performance was how he didn't need to get his entire frame into the throw. The bulk of his throws were stemming from one-step drops, if not catch-and-release.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His arm strength and size made him stand out throughout that part of the session, and he said much of it is a product of his last three months - the span of his time at Spartanburg High.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“This place, everything is amazing,” Desai said. “Facilities, strength facilities, everything has gotten me better. I used to be a 17-mile-per-hour guy, slower guy. I've gotten up to 19.8. My maxes have all gone up 20-25 pounds.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>OTHER SESSION I OFFENSIVE STANDOUTS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1790749' first='Trason' last='Smith']</strong> TE, Gaffney&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At a verified 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds (a light increase from where we had him before), Smith showed up looking and performing a little higher in the combine testing. But he really grabbed our attention when he got low on a route to make a shoe-string grab, somehow without breaking his stride. That type of flexibility should help him eclipse his 18 career receptions this coming season alone. It's hard not to throw to a guy who can fight off defenders and most those types of catches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809232' first='Evan-Reece' last='Lawter']</strong> QB, Chesnee and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603963' first='Mason' last='Evans']</strong> QB, Crescent</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both quarterbacks did well a year ago on this very same field. This time around, they showed off their high-rhythm, quick-release ability with some increased size. The two dual-threat quarterbacks each showed up the combine an inch taller and between 12 (Evans) and 27 (Lawter) pounds heavier than they did a year ago. It showed in some arm strength differences, of course, but we're also excited to see what these two QBs who also ran for 1,000 yards as juniors will do under the lights next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824661' first='TJ' last='Bratton']</strong> TE, York</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much like Smith at Gaffney, Bratton wasn't targeted a ton last fall (five receptions in eight games). But he took advantage of his routes at the combine just the same. The one in particular we loved was when he cut to fake a post route and immediately turned back toward the sideline. By the time the ball got to him, his defender was already on the ground and Bratton jogged into the end zone.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816745' first='Ty'Quarius' last='Shannon']</strong> WR, Fairfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been sounding the alarm on Shannon for a few months now, and he proved Sunday that 2026 could be shaping up for something truly special for him. From check-in throughout the completion of the session, Shannon exhibited every tool you'd want to see. He measured in at a shade under 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, then ran some electric 40 times (best was 4.58) and then abused a couple of defensive backs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kamari Jones</strong> QB, Fairfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones split time with a senior last fall and at times struggled with interceptions and low completion rates. We're going out on a limb and suggesting that won't be an issue as he takes the reins full-time. Jones checked in a shade over 6-foot and also had a 76.5-inch wing span. We expected a long, deliberate delivery but saw something else. He's got enough length to see over the line and really propel the Griffins' already stout air attack.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823740' first='Cam' last='Wilson']</strong> WR, Pickens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While his normal quarterback was sick and not in attendance, Wilson was at least for a portion of the session a How To Guide on how to use lateral quickness to get open and break away from defenders. He also “scored” on a post route over the top and out-jumped another defender on a sideline route.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604450' first='Joshua' last='Norris']</strong> OL, South Pointe </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We already knew Norris was big, but verifying someone at a full 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds and an 81-inch wingspan still turned plenty of heads at the measurables tent Sunday. He then stood tall during his one-on-ones and displayed a bend many have been hoping to start seeing out of him more and more.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan Fusaro</strong> OL, Chesnee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Short in stature, Fusaro proved he was much more than his measurables. The 5-foot-7, 241.8-pound interior lineman leveraged some much bigger defensive linemen on multiple drills, staying low and maximizing his center of gravitate advantage.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SIZE, SIZE, SIZE&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of other players turned some heads with their newfound (or newly verified) measurements Sunday. These figures are going to be the next starting point for a lot of recruiting battles over the next few months.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='691267' first='CJ' last='Brooks']</strong> OL, Gaffney - Brooks was a fraction of an inch away from hitting the 6-foot-5 threshold, and his 324.1 pounds was close to what he was already at. But what we noticed was one of the state's top ranked offensive linemen flashed a freakish 85-inch wingspan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104507' first='Ames' last='Oliver']</strong> OL, Rock Hill - The North Carolina transplant chimed in at 6-foot-6 and 272 pounds with an 82-inch wingspan.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809928' first='Nathan' last='Huff']</strong> OL, Greer - Huff showed up a little slimmer (by 10 pounds) and taller (by an inch) at the measurables tent. The Yellow Jackets' top lineman is queuing up a big senior season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->